Community Weapons Sweeps

Sem Moema: Can you provide a breakdown of community weapons sweeps for each month of this year and by borough, where possible? What is your assessment of their success?

The Mayor: All BCUs are encouraged to carry out Community Weapons Sweeps on a regular basis. These are often advertised on local social media channels. Where possible the Metropolitan Police use Ward Officers, PCSOs, Cadets, and Volunteers to take part in this key activity.
Currently, the Metropolitan Police do not centrally record Community Weapon Sweeps. Community Contact Sessions information is stored centrally on the AirSpace system, and the Metropolitan Police plan to update this to include Community Weapon Sweeps and other session types. This will ensure that in future Community Weapon Sweeps, including the numbers of attendees and the numbers conducted, can provide ward level data.

Police officer average tenure in post

Unmesh Desai: In the last 5 years, what is the average length of time a police officer spends doing a role before either moving to a different role within the Metropolitan Police or leaving the service.

The Mayor: It is not possible to provide this data. Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) systems do not have the facility to run reports on assignment histories.

Grant funding for Stag Brewery, Mortlake

Siân Berry: In your reasoning for rejecting the proposed scheme for the Stag Brewery, Mortlake, you told the public hearing: “Despite the hard work of the GLA team, the public benefits offered would not clearly outweigh the harm. I’m particularly concerned that the affordable housing offer, which remains below the expectations that I have in my plan, does not unbalance the adverse impacts of the development.” Could you tell me what discussions the GLA team had with developers Reselton Properties, and any of their partners, around grant funding in order to improve the number of affordable housing units, and what the outcome of these discussions were?

The Mayor: Most developer-led schemes receiving GLA grant provide 40 per cent affordable housing or more. With the level of affordable housing proposed for this scheme only at 30 per cent, and the developer being unwilling to provide more affordable housing in the context of their position on viability, the use of GLA grant was not pursued. However, the proposed S106 agreement required the availability of council grant funding to be explored both following completion of the agreement (and in any event at least 6 months prior to implementation of the development) and on completion of the mid-stage review to enable the delivery of additional affordable housing where feasible. This is in line with the London Plan requirement to use grant to maximise the delivery of affordable housing where available.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate inspection into anti-corruption

Unmesh Desai: In recent comments made at London’s Police and Crime Committee the Commissioner of the Met stated that Andy Cooke QPM, Her Majesty’s Inspector of the Constabulary, had looked at the Met’s anti-corruption capability and said that it was good. Please could you provide a copy of the report associated with this work by the Inspector?

The Mayor: At the Police & Crime Committee on 21/07/21, the Commissioner was referring to the most recent HMICFRS PEEL assessment, which includes tackling corruption and can be found at:
https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmicfrs/publications/peel-assessment-2018-19-metropolitan/

Business Engagement

Emma Best: Have you engaged with and spoken with businesses who have been negatively impacted by the Extinction Rebellion protests this summer to hear their concerns?

The Mayor: Yes, Rajesh Agrawal, my Deputy Mayor for Business, and Ihave engaged and spoken with businesses this summer who have been negatively impacted by protests, including Extinction Rebellion protests.
My Deputy Mayors, Night Czar and officers meet regularly with businesses large and small both individually and through stakeholder bodies such as my Business Advisory Board, the London Economic Action Partnership and the London Covid Business Forum.

Police officer retirement

Nicholas Rogers: For each of the following years Nov 16 to Oct 17, Nov 17 to Oct 18, Nov 18 to Oct 19, Nov 19 to Oct 20 and Nov 20 to Oct 21, how many police officers retired early from the Met?

The Mayor: The table below shows the number of officers who have retired with fewer than 30 years' service.
Note that some of these officers were over 60 years of age. These are shown in the second row.
Category
Nov 16 - Oct 17
Nov 17 - Oct 18
Nov 18 - Oct 19
Nov 19 - Oct 20
Nov 20 - Aug 21
Retirement (fewer than 30yrs service - under 60yrs age)
357
380
415
402
303
Retirement (fewer than 30yrs service - Age 60 +)
23
39
39
21
25
Total Retirement (fewer than 30yrs Service)
380
419
454
423
328

Action Plan quarterly race equality audit

Unmesh Desai: Please advise when you will publish the first quarterly policing race equality audit as proposed within your action plan to improve transparency, accountability and trust in policing.

The Mayor: I committed to publishing quarterly race equality audits as part of my Action Plan to improve transparency, accountability and trust in policing. This was first published as the Action Plan Dashboard on 18th March 2021 and is updated quarterly. It is available on the MOPAC website at:
https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/data-and-statistics/policing/action-plan-dashboard

Money Laundering 2020/21

Unmesh Desai: Please advise how many individuals were arrested for money laundering offences in 2020/21. Please advise how many money laundering incidents in total were recorded and how much laundered money was seized during this period, as per the information provided here https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2020/3414

The Mayor: In financial year 2020/21, Metropolitan Police custody records for offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) show there were 2,403 individual records which contained at least one relevant offence for Money Laundering.
The overall figure for cash seized and accounts frozen for the same period was £74.6million.

Daniel Morgan Independent Panel Report, Corruption and Misconduct within the Met (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: Are you content and satisfied with the current provisions and protections the Met has in place to protect police whistleblowers and do you welcome the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel’s recommended HMIC inspection, which will, amongst other things, look at practices and procedures within the Met to determine whether sufficient resources are available to protect whistleblowers?

The Mayor: I wholeheartedly welcome the proposed HMICFRS inspection following the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel report. This will be useful to identify any further action that should be taken by the Met to root out corruption and support whistleblowers.

London Drug Commission Members

Emma Best: How will you select the independent experts for your London Drug Commission and when will this take place?

The Mayor: As I set out in my manifesto, I will establish a London Drug Commission of independent experts who will examine the effectiveness of our drugs laws, with a particular focus on cannabis. My officials are working hard on this, and I will be very happy to provide further updates to the Assembly in due course.

Cost of Extinction Rebellion protests

Emma Best: What is your assessment of the cost of the Extinction Rebellion protests on small businesses and London’s economic recovery?

The Mayor: There was an immediate cost and burden on our police. Officers were redeployed from their normal duties to help meet the exceptional demands of policing these protests.
As well as diverting police resources at a vital time, disruptive and unlawful protests could hamper our green recovery and risk turning public opinion against a vitally important campaign. I have always supported the democratic right to protest, and I urge anyone who protests in London to co-operate fully with the police and to act peacefully, safely and lawfully at all times.
I share the passion of those who have taken to the streets to highlight the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. This is an issue I care deeply about, which is why I’ve ensured London is leading the world in taking bold action to reduce carbon emissions, with a commitment to make our capital zero-carbon by 2030.
However, this does not mean that individuals should be committing unlawful acts and creating disruption to Londoners.

Speaking up for businesses

Emma Best: Will you commit to speaking out against the negative impact of the Extinction Rebellion protests on small businesses as London’s economy recovers?

The Mayor: I share the passion of those who have taken to the streets to highlight the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. This is an issue I care deeply about, which is why I’ve ensured London is leading the world in taking bold action to reduce carbon emissions, with a commitment to make our capital zero-carbon by 2030.
However, this does not mean that individuals should be committing unlawful acts and creating disruption to Londoners, and I continue to urge Extinction Rebellion to think about the wider impact of their tactics.

Mitigating Costs of Extinction Rebellion Protests

Emma Best: What actions have you undertaken to mitigate the costs of the Extinction Rebellion protests to London’s small businesses and economic recovery?

The Mayor: Small businesses are having to manage any disruption alongside the long-term effects of the pandemic. I continue to help businesses through a variety of business support measures through my London Business Hub and other programmes.
I share the passion of those who have taken to the streets to highlight the urgent need to tackle the climate crisis. This is an issue I care deeply about, which is why I’ve ensured London is leading the world in taking bold action to reduce carbon emissions, with a commitment to make our capital zero-carbon by 2030.
However, this does not mean that individuals should be committing unlawful acts and creating disruption to Londoners.

Idling Police Vehicle Engines (2)

Caroline Pidgeon: Please outline what guidance the Met provides to officers regarding leaving police vehicle engines idling when parked?

The Mayor: Officers are advised that they should only leave vehicles idling when operationally necessary. The drawbacks of idling such as air pollution and increased wear and tear on the vehicles are highlighted as negative effects of excessive idling.

Daniel Morgan Independent Panel Report, Corruption and Misconduct within the Met (3)

Caroline Pidgeon: In terms of corruption and misconduct the Met has previously had a reactive team investigating complaints and a proactive team working on intelligence to catch those involved in serious misconduct and corruption. Can you confirm if a proactive team still exists within the Met and if so the size of the team?

The Mayor: The MPS has a dedicated Anti-Corruption Command (ACC), the largest counter corruption unit in the country. The ACC is resourced to include operational teams and the provision of covert services (surveillance, technical surveillance and undercover - including integrity testing). The MPS has the capability and capacity to identify and investigate suspected corrupt MPS staff, officers and persons outside the organisation who actively seek to corrupt MPS employees or pose a risk of compromise to MPS assets. The resourcing of the ACC is treated as Secret because one of the most significant factors in mitigating and preventing corruption is the fear or perceived risk of detection by the workforce.

Borough funded police officers

Nicholas Rogers: Please provide the number of police officers funded by London councils, broken down by borough?

The Mayor: As of end of August 2021, the Partnership Plus Scheme supports 137.7 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) officers across 19 London Boroughs.
London Borough
No. of officers
LB Barking and Dagenham
9.0
LB Havering
5.0
LB Bexley
1.0
Royal Borough of Greenwich
3.0
LB Camden
1.0
LB Islington
3.0
Croydon
2.0
LB Sutton
4.0
LB Ealing
5.0
LB Hillingdon
10
LB Hounslow
14
LB Enfield
16.0
LB Hammersmith & Fulham
6.0
RB Kensington & Chelsea
4.0
LB Lambeth
5.0
LB Southwark
6.0
LB Tower Hamlets
26.0
LB Waltham Forest
1.7
LB Newham
16.0
TOTAL
137.7

Daniel Morgan Independent Panel Report, Corruption and Misconduct within the Met (1)

Caroline Pidgeon: In their report the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel stated that “at times our contact with the Metropolitan Police resembled police contact with litigants rather than with a body established by the Home Secretary to enquire into a case.” Do you believe this was an appropriate way for the Met to engage with the Panel?

The Mayor: I am grateful for the work of the Daniel Morgan Independent Panel in compiling a comprehensive report of over 1,100 pages. The Panel’s engagement with the Met spanned a period of eight years, and their report covered a period of 34 years since Daniel’s tragic murder.
The Met is a different organisation than it was in 1987 and policing operates, quite rightly, in a world of much improved independent oversight and scrutiny.
I am determined, as I know the Commissioner is, to ensure that action is taken and lessons are learned as a result of this report.

Daniel Morgan Independent Panel Report, Corruption and Misconduct within the Met (4)

Caroline Pidgeon: What safeguards and processes have been put in place since Operation Tiberius to ensure former Met officers are not used as conduits for organised criminal gangs to access and corrupt serving Met officers?

The Mayor: The MPS Department of Professional Standards (DPS) has a dedicated intelligence unit whose role is to collate and investigate intelligence from a range of internal and external sources in relation to all allegations of police corruption, including any risk posed by former MPS officers. The Unit works closely with the MPS vetting unit to ensure that any intelligence held is considered within the vetting process for all police officers.
The MPS has dedicated Anti-Corruption teams whose role it is to investigate allegations of police corruption, including those seeking to corrupt MPS officers and staff.
There are anonymous reporting mechanisms both internally (Right Line) and externally (Crimestoppers) for MPS staff or members of the public who have corruption concerns to report them, and these are referred to the DPS for further investigation.
The MPS has a Declarable Association policy which requires officers to declare associations with specified categories of people, including associates and family members with convictions and those working within the private security industry.
The MPS have recently launched a “Raising Concerns” policy which encourages its staff to raise all concerns, including any corruption matters. This policy places a positive obligation on managers to action these concerns as well as ensuring that any ‘reporter’ is fully supported.

Brent Cross

Anne Clarke: What is the latest update you have from Barnet Council about the state of plans to expand Brent Cross Shopping Centre?

The Mayor: The masterplan for Brent Cross Cricklewood Regeneration covers 141 hectares (370 acres) and is split into two parts. Hammerson and Aberdeen Standard Investments will deliver the northern half of the site, Brent Cross North, while Barnet Council, in partnership with Argent Related, will deliver the new Brent Cross Town. Major road and public transport improvements and a new station on the Thameslink line are also part of the masterplan to improve local connections to central London and beyond.
Since the revised outline planning permission was granted for the whole regeneration area in July 2014, Hammerson and Aberdeen Standard Investments have taken the decision to defer start on the northern part of the development. A re-phasing application was submitted and accepted in April 2019 to allow critical infrastructure works to be undertaken by Barnet Council which were originally part of the Brent Cross London scheme, effectively enabling the Brent Cross Town and station developments to continue independently. Further detail on the development can be found here.
While Hammerson and Aberdeen Standard Investments are currently reviewing plans for the future scheme at Brent Cross, to ensure it addresses both changing customer and retailer requirements and delivers an exceptional destination for many years to come, progress on the wider regeneration continues with the overbridge having been completed and works on the new station concourse started over the August bank holiday weekend.

IOPC investigations (1)

Susan Hall: What is the average time of an IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) investigation of a Met police officer?

The Mayor: Questions regarding IOPC investigations should be directed to the IOPC.

IOPC investigations (2)

Susan Hall: Please can you provide a top 10 list of the current longest (Independent Office for Police Conduct) IOPC investigations times?

The Mayor: Questions regarding IOPC investigations should be directed to the IOPC.

Police Officer Pay Freeze

Caroline Pidgeon: Given the commitment, dedication and sacrifice of police officers, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, will you be making representations to the Government calling for them to re-think the decision to freeze pay for all officers earning over £24,000?

The Mayor: Police officers have worked tirelessly, often under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions to keep our communities safe during the pandemic. Their hard work and sacrifice on the front line, where they have been at heightened risk of being exposed to Covid-19, deserve far better than the pay freeze confirmed by the Government. I support calls for a fully funded pay increase for officers.

Assaults on Police Officers

Caroline Pidgeon: The latest figures show a staggering 6,419 Met police officers were assaulted in the past year. With assaults on officers increasing consistently in recent years what more are you doing to support officers who have been assaulted and reduce assaults on our police officers?

The Mayor: It is never acceptable for our police officers to be assaulted.
Police officers perform an invaluable role to keep us all safe and in turn I am committed to ensuring they are properly supported and protected.
I have supported the provisions in the forthcoming Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to increase protection for police officers by doubling the maximum sentence for assaulting emergency workers from 12 months to 2 years.
I have also supported the roll out of Operation Hampshire, aimed at assisting officers and staff who have been assaulted, and, through my Action Plan, have advocated its expansion to support officers subject to hate crime. This is to ensure that every officer or member of staff who is assaulted or subjected to a hate crime, or both, is treated as a victim and has access to proper support.
I take my operational advice on the protection of officers from the Commissioner and have supported her in the provisioning of Body Worn Video, Spit and Bite Guards and increased roll out of Taser. I will continue to listen to her concerns and recommendations to ensure officers are kept safe.

Waste management review

Emma Best: Waste disposal in London is currently disjointed with proposals for new incineration capacity by separate authorities not matching up with London’s need. Needlessly pollutant practice is rife with rubbish trucks driving from one side of London to the other – (e.g. collection routes in Camden and Barnet driving to Wembley before back to Edmonton).

Will you commit to a review of waste management in London which will look to make definitive recommendations on the future make-up of authorities (or single authority) to safeguard the city for years to come?

The Mayor: Through my London Environment Strategy (LES) and London Plan I have implemented policies to minimise the adverse impacts of the fragmented governance structures of waste authorities that were in place before the GLA was created. I have a statutory role to assess all waste contracts before they can be advertised and all boroughs must produce Reduction and Recycling Plans that are in general conformity with the LES. This includes applying the proximity principle (managing waste as close to the source as possible), waste reduction, recycling and the promotion of the circular economy. This work has seen landfill rates fall, recycling increase year on year and an increase in borough waste services.
I do not have powers to create a single waste authority; responsibility for waste collection and disposal lies with individual authorities. Under a previous administration a case for a single waste disposal authority was made but was not supported by government. However, this led to the creation of what is now ReLondon which is a partnership between my office and boroughs to bridge the gap between strategy and delivery, enabling rapid dissemination and deployment of best practice and innovation. It, however, has no powers and does not receive any government funding. Most of its current budget is covered by historic funding that will be fully used in a few years’ time. ReLondon have therefore started to develop commercial offers and I have started to make the case to government for securing their long-term funding.
Some boroughs, such as those in the South London Waste Partnership, have jointly procured contracts to better coordinate services and I have set up a contracts register to encourage other boroughs to explore such opportunities.

London Legacy Development Corporation fixed estate charge at Chobham Manor (2)

Siân Berry: Thank you for your answer to my question 2021/1481. You told me: “I understand the concerns raised by residents, particularly about the RPI increases in the charge, and these will be looked into.” Could you update me on these investigations into the RPI increases in the fixed estate charge?

The Mayor: I have asked the LLDC to undertake a review of the Fixed Estate Charge, which as I explained before, provides an important revenue stream for the long-term management of the Park to the standards expected by local residents and businesses.
Part of this review will include considering whether the Retail Prices Index (RPI) remains an appropriate basis for the indexation of the charge. I anticipate that the review will commence this Autumn and views will be sought from local residents and businesses.